Boston's Mayor Menino: 'I will leave the job that I love'

Friday

Mar 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 29, 2013 at 5:36 PM

A who’s-who of Massachusetts politicians, among many others, gave multiple standing ovations to Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino in Faneuil Hall’s Great Hall today as he emotionally announced he would not be seeking a historic sixth term in office.

Julie M. Cohen/Wicked Local West Roxbury and Roslindale

A who’s-who of Massachusetts politicians, among many others, gave multiple standing ovations to Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino in Faneuil Hall’s Great Hall today as he emotionally announced he would not be seeking a historic sixth term in office.

With his family surrounding him and his wife Angela by his side, Menino thanked the packed crowd for their support and said, “I am here with the people I love, to tell the city I love, that I will leave the job that I love.”

“I can run, I can win, and I can lead,” the 70-year-old said as the audience clapped and cheered, “but not in the neighborhoods all the time as I like,” he added somberly. Spending time with residents builds trust, he said, and he missed being able to attend the same number of events he had in the past.

“One of the great blessings of this job was meeting half the people who live in the city.”

Already Boston's longest-serving mayor, Menino has made a significant recovery from a devastating succession of illnesses that kept him away from his Hyde Park home for almost six months.

Menino spent months hospitalized and then in rehabilitation after a string of serious illnesses forced him to cut short an anniversary trip to Italy last October. An acute respiratory infection was complicated by blood clots. He was then diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and a fractured vertebra, which limited his mobility.

“My physical therapy is going great. I feel better today than I have in a long, long while,” he said. “I am back to a mayor schedule, but not a Menino schedule,” which sometimes would last 16-18 hours in one day, he said.

Standing at the podium clad in a suit and red tie, the mayor recalled many of his accomplishments, including improving Roslindale’s Main Street and helping to turn a landfill in West Roxbury into Millennium Park.

Before he spoke, many of his colleagues as well as Boston residents reflected on his impact on the city and his legacy.

“I feel like it’s a loss for Boston,” said Janine Coppola, who works in the mayor’s 24-hour call center. “Today it felt like a funeral where nobody died,” added the North End resident as her eyes teared. She said she hopes whoever becomes Boston’s next mayor would continue Menino’s work.

“I don’t think we’re ever going to see a mayor like this,” said state Rep. Ed Coppinger as he got to his seat near the front of the cavernous hall. When asked if he had an inkling of Menino’s decision, he said, “I’m completely shocked.”

While most people wouldn’t theorize on who might replace the mayor, Coppinger said the race was “going to be the Wild West.”

So far the only person who has announced he will run for mayor is Boston City Councilor-at-Large John Connolly, who said he was genuinely surprised Menino wouldn’t seek re-election. Connolly wouldn’t speculate about the upcoming race, instead saying, “Today is all about a living legend.”

“I think it’s a sad day … obviously I support that decision completely,” said District 5 Councilor Rob Consalvo. “He’s going to go down in history as one of the greatest mayors of the city and the country.”

Consalvo was cagey about whether or not he will run, saying, “everybody’s just looking at it at this point.”

“It’s something I’m going to strongly consider,” he said. However, had Menino chosen to seek re-election, Consalvo said he would have supported the mayor.

Papers will be available on April 17 and can be picked up on April 30, Consalvo said.

One person who already said he wouldn’t be running – although he said he’s been asked if he would – was Richie Gormley, lord mayor of West Roxbury.

“It was an honor to be asked but I choose not to run at this time,” said Gormley outside of Faneuil Hall.

Gormley, Menino and their families all traveled to Rome several years ago and met the pope, Gormley recalled, adding that when he heard the news, “I was surprised but very happy for him and his family.”

“The mayor’s always been good to West Roxbury,” said Gormley, who specifically mentioned the creation of Millennium Park.

As he waited to take his seat ahead of the speech, District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley said, “I’m surprised, I’m saddened,” by the decision, adding Menino’s been in office since he was in eighth grade. “I’m thankful for what he’s done.”

“In politics you always expect the unexpected,” said state Sen. Mike Rush as he shook hands and greeted colleagues.

“An era is slowly coming to an end,” he said. “Mayor Menino is my friend and has done an outstanding job.”

State Rep. Angelo Scaccia has known Menino for decades, and said the mayor had been his first campaign manager 40 years ago.

“I respect his decision (but) I feel sad,” said Scaccia, who added Menino had called him on Wednesday night to tell him ahead of time.

As City Councilor-at-Large Ayanna Pressley prepared to head to another meeting after the event, she noted, “His entire life has been defined by public service.”

Saying, “it’s bittersweet” he won’t seek re-election but will have more time for family, Pressley added, “He’s not going to be a lame-duck mayor. … Public service is in his DNA.”

Consalvo added, “He’ll still be a voice and a presence in our city.”

And Menino himself echoed Pressley by telling the crowd, “I am not retiring, but just turning the page on this chapter to the next.”